I'm a Stranger Here Myself

by Deric Longden

The author of "Diana's Story" and "Lost for Words" recounts with humour the events of everyday life following his move to Huddersfield in 1990 - the demands of a houseful of cats, the need to get a gas cooker repaired, the problem of opening a milk carton, the memories stirred to life by sorting through old clothes in the wardrobe.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Cats, Autobiography, Animals, Memoir

Hardcover

First published February 1, 1995

Reviews

[Janet]

In "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" we find Deric leaving the comfortable climes of Chesterfield and emigrating north to the vast unknown - Huddersfield. Filled with Longdenesque observations, the trials and tribulations of Deric and Aileen's everyday life; all told with the gentle and self effacing humour for which he has become famous

[Donna]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one; it made me laugh out loud.

"Once again Deric Longden demonstrates his genius for taking the most ordinary materials of life and transforming them with inspired but gentle humour."

[Chloe]

3.5 - 4 stars - Gentle, warming and witty. Longden has a uniquely humorous, imaginative yet immediately recognisable way of writing the world around him. There is a humility and softness to his voice that makes the writing comforting as well as entertaining.

Only possible minors gripes that I could find was that it was a slower read and perhaps a bit dated in moments - but overall if you're looking for a bit of gentleness and warmth, it's a good time.

[Hilary]

A scattershot collection, largely made up of recycled material new to me, but recycled nonetheless and with far too little cat stuff for my liking. It also gave me a bit of a shock when one of my ex-bosses made a sudden appearance: she's Longden's stepdaughter. Now I come to think of it, she was always trying to plug a load of books by some relative of hers & It is a bit of a shock, I have to tell you, when someone that you know as a slightly horse-faced dishwater blonde is described as having "the languid looks of a catwalk model", but that's the rosy filter of fictionalised autobiography for you.

[Ross Mountney]

Always enjoy Deric's sparkly writing about even the mundane. Great 'time out' read!

[Carol]

This must be the 4th time at least that I have read this book, I love his work, he always makes me smile.

[Elaine]

It was a light and funny book, love the conversations with the cats!
Not much substance, but I enjoyed it.

[Daphne Allen]

I loved this book. It’s a autobiographical account of the author’s everyday life, home, wife, cats, shopping, and writing. It’s very funny at times and amusing at others. Deric Longden has a gentle, problematic life that is very comforting for the reader. I am glad he has written others that I can now read.

[Teri Pre]

Pretty good, but dated.

[Rhonda Howard]

I have a new genre. Loving books about people who love their pets!

[Plum-crazy]

I loved this. Amusing tales/anecdotes of day-to-day life & the problems therein, featuring cats but not so much as to put off non-cat lovers. I've spent a happy few hours sniggering my way through this book - just my type of humour :o)

To be fair I am a little biased about this book being as it's from my neck of the woods. I loved the fact that I recognised so many of the places - in particular the Midland Bank at Marsh, his "favourite bank in the whole wide world", (it holds a lot of memories for me too but that's a whole other story!) & my friend Karen even gets a namecheck.
I also remember my Mum buying the dreaded Metcolt Adult Cough Remedy - ugh!

One of those books that I can read over & over & always brings a smile to my face.

[Biggy Marshall]

What a wonderful book about nothing! Longden has the same ability as Billy Connelly - both are watching life's trivialities and turning them into funny incidents. It was a great read after having read psychological thrillers, sugar-sweet romance, hard hitting detective novels etc. I chuckled like a hen the whole time, bringing an eager look on the family's faces in expectation of the eggs I apparently would deliver at any moment.
Take a break - forget the KitKat - and grab a Longden book! You won't regret it!

[Sophie]

Witty, Observant and entertaining .
Gives you a different perspective on the most mundane days, you won’t walk down the street quite the same qithout looking for life’s little messages.
His interactions consistently out of the ordinary, with the odd conversation with a fur coat, cat or slug thrown in.

[✰matthew✰]

this book was absolutely fine but quite outdated now as it was written over 30 years ago. some of the humour still worked and was appreciated but some of it did not age well. i enjoyed reading about the authors families experiences and escapades, especially some of the elements that have changed so much in the interim.

[Peter Kieft]

Oh man, this is so much fun. Basicaly Deric Longden writes about small everyday things that hapen around him whilst he is trying to write this book. There's no tension, there's no murder, there's no plot but reading this is so much fun. I now want to read all his books!

[Haley]

Easy read, some humour but I didn't want to finish it...

[sheila philpott]

He has a really unusual way of writing wish I really like.

Great writing in an unusual way love the cats ! So the dales come to life. as do the people.

[Gracel lee]

So funny

A very funny book it made me craçk up on every page. I will read more of his books now

[Jean Walton]

I really enjoyed this book with all its gentle humour and, of course, the author is fond of cats so what's not to like.

[Callisto#464]

Not a huge story with twists and surprises and drama ..but a simple one narrating his daily life in a humorous and hearty yet simple manner...It gives off a relaxed and happy vibe...

[Shelagh P.]

3.5 stars

[Jazzy Stephenson]

Another witty story from Deric Longden. I was occasionally slightly confused by the jumps in time but still a thoroughly enjoyable read overall.

[Taksya]

Molto british e discretamente datato come riferimenti e stli di vita... saranno gli anni 90, ma sembrano passati secoli.
Quello che non cambia e che continua a divertire è lo stile dell'autire e gli aneddoti, forse già letti in altri libri della serie, continuano a strappare un sorriso.

[Christopher Gibson]

Funny and charming observations about real life! A great read

[Lynne]

Funny observations about life. If you are a cat person and/or like observational humor such as Jim Gaffigan, you will find this book hilarious.

[Lizzy]

Trail's off a bit towards the end, but on the whole a pleasant read.